Johnstown

History

The Irishman William Johnson came to the Province of New York from Ireland in 1738. Johnson was a trader who learned Indigenous languages and culture and formed close relationships with many Native American leaders, especially those of the Mohawk and other members of the Iroquois Confederacy. Johnson made use of his alliances and influence with the Iroquois on behalf of the British during the French and Indian War, in which he was a major general. He helped Great Britain defeat France and take over control of certain territories in North America. After the war, when control of all of Canada passed to Britain, Johnson was appointed Superintendent of Northern Indians, and took charge of all British government relations with the Native American nations bordering the Great Lakes and the colonies of New York and Pennsylvania. As a reward for his services, Johnson received large tracts of land in what are now Hamilton and Fulton counties in New York. Johnson established Johnstown and became one of New York's most prosperous and influential citizens. Johnson was the largest landowner in the Mohawk Valley, with an estate of more than before his death. Having begun as an Indian trader, Johnson expanded his business interests to include a sawmill and lumber business and a flour mill that served the area. Johnson, the largest enslaver in the county and perhaps in the state of New York, enslaved some 60 Africans to labor for these businesses. He also recruited many Scottish Highlander and Irish tenant farmers to work his lands. Observing Johnson's successful business endeavors, the local Native American inhabitants dubbed him Warragghivage, or "he who does much business." Johnson founded the village of Johnstown – originally "John's Town" – in 1762, naming it…

Geography

Johnstown is located along the southern edge of Fulton County, in the picturesque Mohawk Valley of upstate New York. It is slightly north of the route developed for the Erie Canal through what is now Montgomery County. Although not a hilltown, Johnstown is close to the Adirondack Mountains that stretch across the northern portion of Fulton County. It is near the southern border of the Adirondack Park. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.17%, is water. The city is bordered to the north, east, and west by the town of Johnstown, to the northeast by the city of Gloversville, and to the south by the town of Mohawk in Montgomery County. Cayadutta Creek, which runs through the city, provided water power needed to generate the electricity required by the various industries that grew up in Johnstown. The creek flows south to join the Mohawk River at Fonda. East-west highways, New York State Route 29 and New York State Route 67, intersect in the city and also cross the north-south highway New York State Route 30A. NY 29 leads east to Saratoga Springs and northwest to Rockwood. NY 67 leads southeast to Amsterdam and west to St. Johnsville. NY 30A leads northeast to Gloversville and to Mayfield, as well as south to Fonda and to the New York Thruway.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  6,182
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  5,266
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  5,264
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  5,217
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,990
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  4,657
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,197
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  4,078

Most recent

• M 3.1 — 2020-03-11
  0 km SSW of South Glens Falls, New York
• M 2.79 — 2015-09-27
  New York
• M 2.76 — 2011-08-27
  5 km WSW of Altamont, New York
• M 2.69 — 2011-08-25
  5 km WSW of Altamont, New York
• M 3.15 — 2009-12-13
  15 km N of Medusa, New York
• M 2.56 — 2009-12-13
  14 km N of Medusa, New York